Ottawa invests $13 million in Indigenous health centre set for east Hamilton

Federal funding announce‐ ments aren't always as emotional as one held Monday morning in Hamil‐ ton's east end.

People teared up, hugged and expressed their appreci‐ ation for one another's work on a long-term Indigenous health and housing project.

"To see a place that is rep‐ resentative of Indigenous people and run by Indige‐ nous people is so empower‐ ing," said Alex Jacobs-Blum, vice chair of De dwa de dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Cen‐ tre (DAHC), one of several In‐ digenous organizations which will be running the project.

Members of Parliament Filomena Tassi, Chad Collins and Lisa Hepfner were in at‐ tendance to announce the government of Canada is in‐ vesting $13 million in a health centre set to be built in Hamilton's McQuesten neighbourhood, within the larger, new Biindigen WellBeing Centre. The complex will also include family, social and housing services.

The funding will allow more people in Hamilton's urban Indigenous commu‐ nity access to "culturally sen‐ sitive" health care and well‐ ness services "that they not only need, but they deserve," said Bryanne Smart, DAHC board chair.

"Let's not lose sight of the profound impact that this health facility will have on the lives of countless individuals and families," Smart said, her voice breaking. "That's why we're here."

'It'll be a beautiful space'

Smart, a member of Six Na‐ tions of the Grand River from the Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan, was one of several com‐ munity and political leaders to speak Monday in a room at the Biindigen Community

Hub, currently housed within the former St. Helen Catholic Elementary School.

"Biindigen," which will al‐ so be part of the new centre's name, is an Anishinaabe‐ mowin word which means "welcome" or "come in."

Eventually, the existing building will be demolished and replaced with three facili‐ ties, Jacobs-Blum told CBC Hamilton.

DAHC will run the new

health centre, with a focus on preventative and primary care. In the fall, CBC Hamil‐ ton reported the plan is for Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg to provide daycare services and Ontario Aboriginal Services to build between 80 and 100 residential units.

The project previously re‐ ceived $10 million in funding from the province, DAHC said in 2022.

"I think it'll be a beautiful space where everybody can feel safe and welcome," said Jacobs-Blum, a Wolf Clan member of the Lower Caygua Nation of Six Nations.

There aren't many spaces like that in the city, JacobsBlum said. She lives in the east end and said growing up, she didn't know how to access them. Being part of this announcement made her feel emotional, she ad‐ ded.

Another goal is for the health centre to be a onestop-shop where people can receive care for their physi‐ cal, mental and emotional needs, said Jo-Ann Mattina, DAHC acting CEO.

The organization follows the Seven Grandfathers Teachings, a philosophy for living well including the prin‐ ciples of respect, love and courage.

"The patient is always at the centre of everything that we do," Mattina said. "They direct how they want the ser‐ vices, where they want the services, whether or not they want to try some traditional medicines as opposed to Western medicine, and see if they can complement each other."

Pat Mandy, a former DAHC board chair and health-care executive who currently chairs Hamilton's police board, emceed the morning announcement.

She told reporters the cur‐ rent school building will likely be demolished in the coming months and existing pro‐ grams will be relocated.

Mandy said there will be a clearer timeline once work with architects begins.